Two Warsaw Men Arrested on Cocaine Dealing Charges

The Kosciusko County Drug Task Force announced this morning the arrests of two Warsaw men on charges of dealing cocaine. The suspects are 30 and 51 years old. Police say the suspects sold cocaine to an undercover officer at the Hide-Away-Hills mobile home park.

Sales Tax Increases Tomorrow

If you’re planning to buy something expensive, today is the last day you can do it before Indiana’s sales tax goes up. A midnight tonight, the sales tax rises from six percent to seven percent to help pay for property tax reform.

IU Might Add 8 a.m., Friday Classes

Indiana University is considering scheduling changes that could prompt more students to take 8 a.m. and Friday classes. About half of IU students don't have classes Friday, and some students say its hard to focus on classwork at 8 a.m.

Last Day to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

Residents and business owners in the Kosciusko, Whitley, Huntington and other counties included in a presidential disaster declaration have until the end of the day today to register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They can do so by calling the toll-free help line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Police: Heroin Found in Wabash Home, 3 Arrested

Wabash police arrested three people last night after a month-long investigation by their drug task force. Police say they found 75 packets of heroin – worth about 25-hundred dollars – when they executed a search warrant at a house on Walnut Street. The three young adults they arrested are all Wabash residents. A man and woman, both of whom are 21 years old, face preliminary charges of possession of more than three grams of heroin, dealing in heroin and maintaining a common nuisance. An 18-year-old man faces preliminary charges of possession of a hypodermic needle and maintaining a common nuisance.

LaGrange County Workers to Lose Jobs

LaGrange County will lose about 250 jobs in May. Champion Enterprises says it will close its Dutch Housing factory in Lagrange and layoff half of the staff at its Redman Homes plant in Topeka. The company blames the economy.

Clinton Campaigns in Northern Indiana

Mishawaka, Hammond, Fort Wayne and Muncie get visits from Hilary Clinton today. She plans to speak at Mishawaka High School’s gymnasium at 10:45 this morning and at Sara’s Family Restaurant in southwestern Fort Wayne at 5:45.

Obama Gets Support from Hoosier Lawmakers

More than a third of Indiana's Democratic legislators announced their support of Barack Obama for president yesterday. During a news conference, the lawmakers said they believed the Illinois senator was the best candidate to unite and inspire the country.

Symmetry Medical to Expand Warsaw Operations

Symmetry Medical Inc., a manufacturer of implants, surgical devices and medical cases for the orthopedics industry, announced today it will expand its operations in Warsaw, creating more than 60 new jobs and expanding training for current employees. More than 400 Hoosiers work for Symmetry at the company's three Kosciusko County facilities.

Fire Strikes Huntington Farm House

A big house fire south of Huntington required a response from four fire departments early this morning. Dispatchers say a neighbor reported the fire at a farm in the 33-hundred block of County Road 100 South at 3:11 a.m. The first fire units on the scene found the house fully engulfed in flames. None of the residents were home and at last report, no one had been injured.

Investigators Find Cause of Apartment Building Fire

Fire investigators in Fort Wayne say discarded smoking materials started Tuesday night’s fire that destroyed the apartments of 21 families. The Hunt Club apartment complex has offered comparable apartments elsewhere in the complex and nonprofit agencies are helping to supply food, clothes and furniture.

Arsenic Levels Down at Columbia City School

A state agency says the drinking water at Northern Heights Elementary School in Columbia City now complies with new standards for the amount of arsenic. The school installed a treatment system after the federal government tightened standards for the poison.

Hilary Clinton to Visit Fort Wayne, South Bend

Hillary Clinton’s campaign says the presidential candidate will visit Fort Wayne tomorrow. The campaign has not yet announced the exact time or location. Clinton also plans to speak in South Bend tomorrow, but the South Bend school system has denied her campaign’s request to hold a rally at a high school there.

Schellinger Discusses Jobs Plan

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger says if he's elected, he'll help create new jobs in Indiana by focusing on work force training, supporting small business and creating so-called green-collar jobs. Democratic opponent Jill Long Thompson has said she'd focus on areas like tax incentives and health care.

Fire Leaves Apartment Dwellers Homeless

Dozens of tenants of a Fort Wayne apartment complex lost their homes in a two-alarm fire overnight. Fire did so much damage to a building at the Hunt Club Apartments on the southwest side that the building will be torn down today. The complex is located near the intersection of Interstate 69 and State Road 14. The building contained 24 apartments. Firefighters say that the wind made fighting the fire difficult. No one was injured.

Agreement Bars Huntington County Dairy Farmer

Huntington County dairy farmer Johannes DeGroot will not operate any livestock facility anywhere in the state for the next 40 years. Under an agreement with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, DeGroot will sell his farm near Andrews. DeGroot has been the focus of investigations into alleged environmental violations.

15-Year-Old Driver Dies in Police Pursuit

Indiana State Police say a 15-year-old western Indiana boy died after he stole a van and crashed it while police chased him. The boy was alone in the van during the police chase, which reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

ND to Get Research Center for Tiny Electronics

One of four nanoelectronics research centers nationwide will be located at the University of Notre Dame. The goal of the research is to find replacements for transistors that will allow smaller and cheaper devices in everything from cell phones to computers.

Indiana Deputy Fired for Sleeping

A Delaware County Sheriff's Deputy has been fired for sleeping in his patrol car while on the job. An investigator says witnesses saw the 33-year-old deputy sleeping in his patrol car at the same location several times before reporting it.

Area Schools Match State Average on Progress

Public schools in the Q101 area are in line with the state average for the number of schools meeting the academic progress goals established under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Fifty-four percent of schools in Kosciusko, Whitley, Wabash and Huntington Counties are meeting requirements. Fifty-four percent is also the statewide average. If you’d like to see how your local school did, follow this link to the Indiana Department of Education Web site.

Rochester Gets First Presidential Visit

No current or former president had ever visited Rochester, until yesterday when Bill Clinton campaigned for his wife there. More than 15 hundred people attended a rally at Rochester Community High School.

Missing Taylor University Student Found Safe

Searchers have found a Taylor University student who had disappeared while hiking at a national park in Ecuador. The Ohio freshman is not hurt. He was in Ecuador on a spring break mission trip with the school's hand bell ensemble.

Columbia City to Consider Alarm Fines

The Columbia City City Council plans to introduce a new ordinance tonight that would fine businesses whose alarm systems turn in false alarms. City Clerk Rosie Coyle says the idea is to encourage businesses to repair malfunctioning alarm systems because of the the risks involved in responding to false alarms. Council is scheduled to meet at seven o’clock tonight.

Clinton to Campaign in Area

South Bend, Rochester and Logansport are among the cities that expect visits from former President Bill Clinton today. Clinton plans stops in those and other places as he campaigns for his wife, Hilary.

Attorney General to Move On

Indiana is getting a new attorney general. Steve Carter says he won't seek a third term because he wants to explore work in the private sector and the not-for-profit sector.

Man Allegedly Steals Gary Police Car

Police in Lake County say a 39-year-old Arizona man stole a Gary police car and led police on a chase on the Indiana Toll Road. Police say the man asked for a police escort to a bus station, saying he feared gang members were following him. Police say as an officer was preparing to give him a ride, the man broke a window in the officer’s patrol car and stole it.

Oil Warehouse Fire Might Remain a Mystery

Warsaw Fire Marshal Mike Wilson says we might never know how Monday’s fire started at an abandoned oil company warehouse. Wilson says the extent of the building’s destruction is making the investigation difficult.

CCHS Opponents Take First Step Toward Remonstrance

People who don’t want the Whitley County Consolidated School system to build a replacement Columbia City High School filed petitions with the Whitley County Clerk’s office yesterday. The eight petitions carried an estimated 254 signatures. A remonstrance against the school building project will begin if the Clerk’s office verifies that at least 100 of the signatures are from affected property tax payers.

Bodies Found in South Bend Garage

A South Bend man came home from vacation yesterday and found two people dead inside his garage. Police have identified them as a 49-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both of South Bend. Police say they found no visible signs of injury to either one of the bodies, and no apparent signs of foul play.

State Police Uncover Pot Operation

State Police say troopers found more than 800 marijuana plants growing in a barn in the central Indiana town of Summitville. They arrested the couple who live on the property on felony drug charges.

Biomet Announces 14% Net Sales Increase

Warsaw orthopedic company Biomet says its net sales for the third quarter of its 2008 fiscal year increased 14 percent to 603.1 million dollars. The quarter ended February 29th.

Kosciusko Tourism Bureau Gets Grant

The Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau says a state tourism agency has chosen it to receive a five thousand dollar grant. The Bureau plans to use the grant to pay for a professional assessment of Kosciusko County and its attractions from a tourist’s perspective. The Kosciusko County bureau is one of 11 statewide to receive the grant.

A big fire at an abandoned oil company warehouse presented some challenges for Warsaw firefighters last evening.

Hear Warsaw Fire Dept. Capt. Craig Warren describe the challenge:

Warsaw Fire Department Captain Craig Warren tells Q101 News that at first they weren’t sure if any of the building’s contents were hazardous, so officials ordered the evacuation of about 20 homes in the area of 700 Market Street. As the building burned, several 55-gallon drums inside exploded. The initial report came in at about 4 p.m. It took firefighters from Warsaw and Winona Lake nearly three hours to bring the fire under control. No one was injured. Officials say the building had been vacant for at least 10 years. The cause remains under investigation.

President Clinton in Indiana Today

Indiana gets a visit from a former president today. President Bill Clinton will campaign for his wife at rallies in Lawrenceburg, Richmond and Fort Wayne. Thursday, Hillary Clinton plans to campaign in Terre Haute, Anderson and Evansville.

Man Claims Devil Made him Attack

Police in South Bend say a 37-year-old Mishawaka man told them the devil made him hit another man in the head with a metal bar. Police say the man told them the devil began controlling him after he started taking an antidepressant drug about six years ago.

Neighbors Help Rescue Ice Fisherman

A Waterloo man fell through the ice on a private lake in Steuben County over the weekend. Fortunately for the 55-year-old ice fisherman, nearby residents heard his cries for help and were able to help him stay afloat until rescuers arrived with special equipment. An Angola hospital treated the man for extreme hypothermia.

Clinton to Campaign in Indiana

Hillary Clinton’s campaign says the democratic presidential candidate will make several stops in Indiana Thursday. Campaign officials say Clinton will begin her visit in Senator Evan Bayh's hometown of Terre Haute and that she and Bayh will make additional stops across the state.

Extra Police Patrolling on Saint Patrick's Day

The federally-funded Operation Pull-Over program has state and local police working overtime today. They’ll try to catch people who are driving after too much Saint Patrick’s Day celebrating. On Saint Patrick’s Day last year, 105 drivers were involved in fatal crashes and nearly half had more than the legal amount of alcohol in their bloodstreams.

Man Alleged Poures Bleach in Wife's Mouth

A 37-year-old Lake County man faces attempted murder and other charges this morning after allegedly pouring bleach into his sleeping wife's mouth. The woman was in critical but stable condition at last report with chemical burns.

Vote Delayed on Property Tax Reform

The Indiana legislature came close last night to passing a compromise property tax reform plan. But a vote was delayed when Senate Democrats asked for more time to review the bill. If lawmakers pass the bill before midnight tonight, they can avoid getting called back for a special session.

Police: Meth Lab Found Near Shipshewana

Two residents of a home in rural Shipshewana face charges this morning of manufacturing methamphetamine. State police say they found an operating meth lab in the house yesterday. In addition to the residents, police arrested three other people.

Obama Indy Rally Sold Old

Barack Obama is scheduled to appear tomorrow at a town hall meeting at Plainfield High School near Indianapolis. But if you don’t already have a ticket, there’s no sense going. The tickets were all gone 90 minutes after they became available yesterday.

Man Allegedly Forces Child to Kill Cat

Police have arrested a Muncie man for allegedly forcing his seven-year-old daughter to kill the family cat by holding a knife in her hand and making her stab it. The man faces charges of animal cruelty, battery and neglect of a dependent.

Former Swim Coach Faces Child Porn Charges

A former central Indiana swim coach who investigators say admitted to hiding video cameras in locker rooms has been indicted on charges of child pornography. The Westfield man faces up to 180 years in prison if he’s convicted on all charges.

Huntington Shoe Warehouse to Close

The company that operates Payless and Stride Rite shoe stores has announced plans to close its distribution center in Huntington next year. The closure will cost the city 140 jobs. Collective Brands Incorporated says it is consolidating its distribution network and moving operations to a new distribution center in Ohio and another facility in Louisville.

Lawmakers Report Progress on Tax Reform

Lawmakers say they made some progress yesterday toward a compromise property tax reform bill. The general assembly’s 2008 session adjourns tomorrow.

Gun Dealer Dies after Prison Fight

The killing of a South Bend police officer has led to a second death. The gun dealer who sold the gun that killed the officer has died in a Chicago prison, where he was serving a nine-month sentence. Officials say 32-year-old Jason Katz was injured in a fight with another inmate.

Obama to Visit Indy

Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama plans to campaign in Indianapolis Saturday. For the first time in 40 years, this year’s Indiana primary might play a significant role in selecting a presidential nominee.

Gasoline Prices Jump Again

Gasoline prices in the Q101 jumped to as high as $3.46 a gallon yesterday for regular unleaded. Analysts say gasoline prices have still not caught up with oil prices, so they expect gasoline prices to get even higher. See the latest gasoline prices in your area.

Farm Fire Kills 2,500 Hogs

Officials say a fire at a western Indiana farm has killed more than 2,500 hogs and caused one-point-five million dollars in damage. The cause remains undetermined.

Carson's Grandson Wins Special Election

Voters in Indianapolis have elected the grandson of the late Julia Carson to succeed her in Congress for the rest of the year. Andre Carson will face seven challengers in the May 6th primary.

No Compromise on Vote Centers

The Republican state senator who sponsored a bill that would allow counties to use vote centers instead of neighborhood polling places says the bill appears to be dead. She says the GOP-controlled Senate and Democrat-controlled House cannot reach a compromise on it.

Advocates: Privitazation Affecting Senior Benefits

Advocates for senior citizens are calling for an immediate investigation into problems with Indiana's privatized welfare system. The groups say the problems have cost some people their food stamps and other benefits.

Governor Signs Bill Limited Sheriff Pay

Sheriffs throughout Indiana will soon have new limits on how much money they can earn. Current policy allows sheriffs to increase their incomes with fees from collecting overdue taxes. But a bill Governor Mitch Daniels has signed sends those fees to the county's main account instead. It also limits a sheriff's pay to no more than what a full-time county prosecutor earns.

Deadline Approaches for Property Tax Reform

Key lawmakers say there’s been little progress toward a compromise property tax reform bill, even though the General Assembly has entered the final week of this year’s session. Governor Mitch Daniels has warned legislators that if they fail pass a bill that meets his criteria, he will call them back for a special session to keep working.

Axle Strike Negotiations Continue

Negotiators are continuing to end a strike that has led GM and GM-related plants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Marion and Mishawaka to shut down production. The United Auto Workers are on strike against auto parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings.

Wabash Police Seize Heroin, Arrest Three

Three Wabash area residents face various drug related charges this morning, after an investigation by the Wabash City Drug Task Force that lasted several weeks. Police arrested a 50-year-old rural Wabash County man on charges including aiding in dealing in heroin. They also arrested the man’s 27-year-old son on a felony charge of possession of heroin. The son gave a Wabash address. And police arrested a 20-year-old rural Wabash County woman on a charge of felony possession of heroin. Police say they seized 176 bags of heroin intended for sale in Wabash and Wabash County. They estimate the street value at eight thousand dollars.

ATV Flip Kills 13-Year-Old

A 13-year-old boy from the central Indiana city of Lebanon died over the weekend after the all-terrain vehicle he was riding apparently flipped over. Conservation officers say the vehicle landed on top of the boy.

Republicans Announced Modified Property Tax Bill

G-O-P lawmakers from both the House and Senate announced yesterday a modified property tax relief and restructuring proposal. They say their new bill would provide immediate and lasting property tax relief. Governor Mitch Daniels says he’s prepared to sign the bill if the legislature passes it. Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer says more negotiations are needed.

Allen County Police Seize Record 6,000 Pounds of Pot

Police in Allen County have seized a record six thousand pounds of marijuana from a house in the town of Harlan, northeast of Fort Wayne. Sheriff Ken Fries says the drugs could have a street value of more than six million dollars. Police arrested the 29-year-old man who was renting the house on preliminary charges of dealing marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Gary Police Chief Arrested on Federal Charges

U-S Marshals have arrested Gary’s police chief and two of his top aides on federal charges of violating the civil rights of four people. Prosecutors say the trio assaulted two people the chief suspected of burglarizing his home and had them and two others wrongfully locked up for three days.

Study Urged on Immigration Bill

Some religious leaders and lawmakers say legislators should study the consequences of an illegal immigration bill before passing it. The legislation would punish companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Sen. Ford's Funeral Announced

State Senator David Ford's funeral is set for tomorrow in Muncie. Ford died yesterday at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Wabash Derailment Update

Wabash County Sheriff Leroy Striker has released additional information about Wednesday’s train derailment southwest of Wabash. Striker tells Q101 News that although initial reports indicated that twenty-five cars derailed with eighteen rolling onto their sides, further investigation revealed that one engine and seven articulated well cars derailed. Each of the articulated well cars carried two box units. All of the box units contained consumer products that posed no environmental hazard. Striker says Norfolk and Southern officials continue to investigate the cause of the derailment and hope to determine a cause within two weeks.

Wabash Derailment Leads to Explosion, Fire

See an update to this story.

Five Wabash County fire departments responded early this morning to the scene of a train derailment southwest of Wabash.

Hear Wabash County Sheriff Leroy Striker explain how the fire started:

Wabash County Sheriff Leroy Striker tells Q101 News that none of the 18 rail cars that overturned were carrying any hazardous chemicals. He says that’s why no evacuations were necessary. No injuries have been reported. The original derailment happened late yesterday afternoon on tracks along old U-S 24 near the Aleris plant.

Warsaw Man Arrested after Chase

A 24-year-old Warsaw man faces multiple charges this morning after allegedly leading police in the Logansport area on a chase in a stolen car. The chase started when a state police trooper tried to stop the man for a traffic violation last night. Police say the car had been stolen in Warsaw.

State Senator Dies

State Senator David Ford has died of pancreatic cancer. He was 59. Ford was a republican who represented parts of Wells, Adams, Blackford and Grant Counties since 1994.

Woman Sets Fire to Self

Police in southern Indiana say a woman remains in critical condition this morning after say she intentionally set herself on fire. Police say after the woman ignited herself, she got into a car with her 14-year-old daughter. The girl was not seriously injured.

Local Linemen Volunteer for Ice Storm Recovery

Two employees of Kosciusko REMC have travelled to New Castle in east central Indiana to help restore power after a major ice storm. Ice more than an inch thick has left many residents of that area without power.

South Bend - Indy Flights Might End

A Massachusetts airline that provides flights between South Bend and Indianapolis might discontinue the service by this summer. Officials say they want to track growth this month before making a decision.

Governor Gets Music Impostor Bill

The Indiana legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit musical performances featuring impostors who were never involved with the original groups. If Governor Mitch Daniels signs the bill, the new law would require at least one member of a performing act to have been part of the recording group and have the legal right to use the name.

Update: Warsaw Woman Dies after Crash

Late this morning, the Warsaw Police Department confirmed that 78-year-old Warsaw resident Vivian Frantz died late last night from injuries she received in a two-car crash in Warsaw yesterday evening. See the original story.